When I was 12, I remember telling my parents that I wanted to pursue arts. I was really good at it. At that time, art was my form of escape. Escape from the chaos that constantly took place at home. It was my way of finding peace, solitude, and safety. I could get lost in creating for hours on end.
That young BK had a dream that someday her work would be hanging in a gallery for thousands of eyes to interpret and marvel at. But that dream was crushed when my dad told me that I would never make it as an artist. That there is no money in arts and I should just be a Dentist.
And for years, I believed that and buried my lifelong dream of pursuing art.
So in 2023, after spending one year teaching myself to illustrate digitally and growing my brand 'love, KAUR', that buried dream resurfaced. I got curious and this is where the journey towards my first art exhibition started.
I did a random Google search on how to get into a gallery exhibition. While I did not get my answer immediately, the god of social media started sending through ads from galleries that were holding Open Calls.
One morning, I came across an ad from The Holy Art Gallery. I checked out the details and thought, "What if I just gave it a try? What's the worst thing that could happen? A rejection...so what? I'm not losing anything."
So I submitted my application. In that application, I submitted three different artworks.
As soon as I finished the submission, I remember texting my partner saying, "I just submitted an application for a gallery exhibition in London. I hope I get it. I really want this." His response was, "Uhhh! That would be so cool if you did get it!"
And so, here's the crazy thing that happened after. I spent about an hour daydreaming about getting accepted and how the exhibition would look to me. It was so vivid that it made me cry because I wanted it so badly.
Talk about manifestation...
One week later, lo and behold, I received a response from The Holy Art Gallery that my application had been accepted for the Future Stars exhibition!
I was in shock, overjoyed, overwhelmed, and grateful. One second I was jumping with joy, and the next I was on the floor crying.
I want to share this with you because this is what can happen if you follow your intuition and let your dreams lead the way.
My artwork "No One Is You And That Is Your Superpower" was selected as my first ever piece to be exhibited in public. As this was my debut exhibition, I didn't initially consider all the logistical details. I ended up buying a frame and getting my artwork printed from The Print Space in the UK. Being based in the Netherlands, shipping an A2 size artwork to the UK involved a lot of paperwork and was quite costly. As a small business owner, I had to think smartly to manage these expenses.The exhibition ran from December 29th, 2023, to January 7th, 2024, at The Holy Art Gallery in London. It was an open-themed exhibition. The opening night on December 29th gave me chills as I stepped into the venue as an ARTIST ON DISPLAY. It felt like coming home, as if this is where I belong. I was thrilled to have friends and family show up to support me.
From this experience, it reaffirmed to me that pursuing what you love leads to fulfillment. The exhibition also influenced my artistic perspective. Seeing how each artist's work represented their dreams made me realize that creating illustrations that inspire others to follow their dreams is my right path.
I went on to exhibit in my second exhibition in Paris, from April 5th-7th, 2024, with The Holy Art Gallery. This exhibition was a digital one. I will share more about this exhibition in a separate blog.
Six months after this exhibition, following my own heart's guidance, I am secretly dreaming of creating more physical art in a mixed media style, a passion I had in my teens. This dream is slowly brewing within me, and I trust that when it feels ready, it will tell me what my new style of art will be and how it will be created and why.
Currently, I have my head down, working on new products to sustain my art business. If you like yourself some inspiring artwork to support your journey of achieving your dreams, get some here.
All I want to say is..follow your dreams and let them lead you to a life of fulfillment =)
love,
KAUR
🌟PS: No One Is You And That Is Your Superpower is available in A4 Original Print, Limited Edition Sticker, and Mini Collectible Card Prints